Beyond beauty: exploring how knowledge of larval food plants and ecological benefits affects public perception of native and non-native plants in urban greening schemes

In the climate and biodiversity crisis, several ecological movements, such as rewilding, the ‘No Mow’ initiative, and a growing emphasis on plant nativeness, have emerged to promote more sustainable approaches to landscape management and the design of urban green spaces. Within this context, the integration of native plant species into designed landscapes is increasingly recognised as a strategy to improve urban biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, native plants remain underutilised in urban environments, often due to public perceptions that associate them with weeds or untidy spaces. Whilst previous studies have explored plant typologies and the value of native versus non-native species, little is known about how awareness of a plant’s ecological role, as food for larval invertebrates, affects aesthetic preferences. This study addresses this gap by examining public and stakeholder perceptions through focus groups and a Likert-scale survey conducted before and after presenting information to assess shifts in perception following an educational intervention detailing native plants’ contributions to supporting urban invertebrate biodiversity. The findings reveal that perceived public sentiment towards native plants presents a barrier to their use by stakeholders. Additionally, initial findings demonstrate a prevailing preference for non-native ornamental plants linked to familiarity and perceived aesthetics. However, post-information exposure, the desirability of native plants increased, while the desirability of non-native plants decreased. This study suggests that informing the public about the ecological value of native plants can promote biophilic stewardship in designed spaces and encourage the use of native plantings for ecologically diverse schemes.